Pediatric Coping and Language Lab

Erin M. Rodríguez, PhD
Dr. Rodríguez studies family, linguistic, and sociocultural influences on children’s coping and adaptation to stress. The aim of her research is to reduce youth health disparities through culturally relevant family-based interventions for children and adolescents faced with medical illnesses and other chronic stressors. Her current research includes an intervention study with Latinx families of children with asthma, a study of family adjustment to pediatric cancer, and a longitudinal investigation of the development of coping and mental health in bilingual Latinx youth.

Dr. Rodríguez received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the St. David’s Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research, and the Society of Pediatric Psychology.

• erodriguez@austin.utexas.edu
• Faculty page

Ignacio Blasini
Hometown: San Juan, PR
Degree Program: B.A. Psychology.
Research interests: Much of research interest stems from my background growing up in Puerto Rico. Given the complex social political history, I’ve made it a goal to understand the sociocultural and environmental factors that determine mental health. Alongside my interest, I utilize a Critical and Decolonization framework to examine the issues that underserved communities, particularly the Latinx community, are currently facing. In addition, I aim to promote evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and bilingual mental health therapy and to destigmatize the misconceptions of mental health. 
Other interests: Reading, Video games, soccer, movies, photography, road-trips, and I’ve recently taken a liking to plant keeping. 

Mario Gomez
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Degree Program: B.A. Psychology, Educational Development Psychology for Minor
Research Interests: I am interested in trying to find new ways to help out students in schools who are suffering from any form of psychopathology as well as better ways to address mental health concerns for students at schools. Essentially, anything that may help students mentally lead to a better education. 
Other Interests: working out and running, reading books, and distracting myself through video games. 

Cinthia Alvarado
Hometown: Eagle Pass, TX
Degree Program: Ph.D., School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.A. Psychology, Minors in Applied Developmental Psychology and Education Studies
Research Interests: I am passionate about identifying and assessing the significant sociocultural and familial factors that contribute to academic success in Students of Color or with low socio-economic status. I believe that analysis in this area can create school environments that are more conducive for learning for Students of Color and create more access to evidence-based health services.
Other Interests: traveling, hiking, painting, and dancing

Catherine Esperanza
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Degree Program: Ph.D., School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.A. in International Relations, Minor in Psychology from Stanford University
Research Interests: I am interested in studying the unique stressors that underserved youth face in their specific social ecologies and the effect of these stressors on their psychological, health, behavioral and educational outcomes. Additionally, I am interested in culturally-responsive, family-based interventions for youth facing chronic stressors.
Other Interests: Dance, travel, art and cultural activities.

Anneli Garcia
Hometown: Pharr, TX
Degree Program: MA/SSP, School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.A. in Psychology and Humanities from The University of Texas at Austin
Research interests: I am interested in examining the sociocultural influences that impact the wellbeing of Latinx youth within educational systems. I am also passionate about identifying factors that contribute to educational disparities and implementing interventions and policy changes in order to create more equitable learning environments.
Other interests: Gardening, drawing, painting, and playing piano

Ana Garcia Villasana
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Degree Program: Ph.D., School/ Child Clinical Psychology at UT Austin.
Previous Degree: B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Statistics from The University of Central Florida
Research Interests: I am interested in risk and protective factors for minorities affected by medical conditions, parent-child relationships, and internalizing symptoms. I am also interested in the development of interventions focused on underserved communities. 
Other Interests: Being outside, reading, watching (mostly old) TV shows

Sofia Ocegueda
Hometown: Durham, NC
Degree Program: Ph.D., School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.S. in Psychology, Minors in Hispanic Studies and Social & Economic Justice from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Research Interests: I am interested in identifying the specific stressors that Latinx youth face while also focusing on the unique effects of family and school environments to improve mental health and educational outcomes. I am also interested in developing culturally relevant interventions that focus on positive youth development factors.
Other Interests: Making art, food, music, reading.

Spencer Westcott
Hometown: Belmar, NJ
Degree Program: PhD program in School/Clinical Child Psychology
Previous Degrees: MA/SSP in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, B.A in Psychology from Clemson University
Research Interests: Acculturation in Latinx youth, Community Involvement, Neighborhood factors that impact child development
Other Interests: Playing soccer, running, and reading 

Veronica Wing
Hometown: Dyer, IN
Degree Program: MA/SSP in School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.A in Psychology from Indiana University 
Research Interests: Mental health and academic achievement in students from low SES, factors that contribute to educational success or disadvantages, early intervention. 
Other Interests: reading, art, nature, hiking.

Daniela Garcia
Hometown: McAllen, Tx
Degree Program: BSA in Biochemistry, BA in Plan II Honors, Certificate in Pre-Health Professions
Research Interests: Mental health care in Latinx/Hispanic communities, Cultural competence in healthcare, Systemic barriers to higher education for underrepresented minorities
Other Interests: Discovering new music, reading, and binge-watching shows!

Stephanie Sustaita
Hometown: Irving, Tx
Degree Program: BS in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals 
Research Interests: Mental health care in Latinx/Hispanic communities, Cultural competence in healthcare, and Effects in Asthma and Allergy in Hispanic Communities. 
Other Interests: Volleyball, listening to music, and binge-watching shows!

Elizabeth Peña, PhD
Professor
School of Education
University of California, Irvine

Lauren Gulbas, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
The University of Texas at Austin

Sharon Horner, PhD
Associate Dean for Research and Dolores V. Sands Chair in Nursing Research
School of Nursing
The University of Texas at Austin

Emily Greenspan, PhD
Director of Neuropsychological Services at the Texas Child Study Center (TCSC)
Director of the TCSC’s Embedded Clinic in the Children’s Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Educational Psychology

Puja Patel, PhD
Director of Therapy Services, Children’s Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center
Collaborative Abdominal Clinic, ‘Specially for Children
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Educational Psychology

Elizabeth Matsui, MD, MHS
Associate Chair for Research, Department of Population Health
Professor, Department of Population Health
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Director, Health Transformation Research Institute
Director, Center for Health & Environment: Education & Research
Dell Medical School
The University of Texas at Austin

Tiffany Whittaker, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin

Graduate Students

• Janie Contreras
• Julia George-Jones
• Claudia Reino
• Danielle Thompson
• Elsí Hernandez
• Cinthia Alvarado
• Juliana Alba-Suarez
• Joseph Barron
• Becca Hammonds
• Hannah Hwang
• C Janeth Juarez
• Emily Lehning
• Annette Leija
• Roxana Mendoza
• Ashlee Mitchell
• Gabriela Echavarría Moats
• Alicia Nichols
• Ben Paly
• Lauren Smith
• Kathy Stanton

Research Staff

• Jennifer Camacho 
• Samantha Garcia Cruz
• Ayda Giacoman
• Nicole Matute
• Eloise Nimocks
• Ariana Vera

Undergraduate Students

• Leo Angula
• Ashley Bautista
• Maria Paula Yavar Calderon
• Immy Clover-Brown
• Sebastian De La Torre
• Madison Gonzales
• Catherine Gonzales
• Natalia Johnson
• Karishma Khoja
• Brandilyn Monene
• Andrea Morquecho
• Cassandra Najera
• Chabeli Navarro Calderon
• Alcess Nonot
• Sofia Olivares
• Courtney Priebe
• Dhruva Pathak
• Israel Rodriguez
• Roma Shah
• Karissa Simchick
• Maria Paula Yavar Calderon 
• Penelopi Yiantsou

Postdoctoral Fellow

• Jendayi Dillard